Mexican adventure - Friday meanderings

After filling our bellies at brunch we went on a meander of the surrounding area. I’m amazed by the amount of greenery in the city, the diversity of the buildings and the serenity of the city. Mixed with a gorgeous temperature, it really is a lovely place to wander round. Every now and then you come across a tree-filled square with a cooling fountain in the middle. Along with a meander, a shopping trip is also welcome and Lee knows of some lovely places tucked away in courtyards, selling gorgeous home items and clothing made by local designers.

Valletta

I recently went on a holiday to Malta and was interested to check out Valletta which has been voted one of the European capitals of culture for 2018. It's situated high on a peninsula surrounded by the blue Mediterranean sea and we started our trip by parking the car down in the harbour and taking the new modern lift up the cliff side to the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

The gardens give you a stunning view over the Grand Harbour and a feel for your surroundings. The harbour was one of the world's great maritime sanctuaries and is at the heart of Maltese history.

With no agenda, we spent our time wandering round the narrow streets (many of which are car-free) and taking in the atmosphere. There are many lovely restaurants to dip into for a drink break!

I loved the blonde limestone buildings that glow in the afternoon sun. Nearly every building has painted wooden balconies which adds colour and character to the outside of the buildings and also adds a little extra space to each home.

I loved the purpose-built parliament building, designed by the architect Renzo Piano who also designed the London Shard. It's modern and interesting yet fits perfectly with the traditional Baroque architecture of its surroundings.

We also went on a boat ride around the bay surrounding Valetta and the Three Cities. It was great to be out on the water and to take in the surroundings, as well as learn a bit more about the rich history of Valletta.

The Three Cities are situated across the harbour from Valletta and are quite magnificent with their marinas and beautiful yachts moored up. On our last day we drove there to see them up close, and had a drink on the waterside.

The Malta at War museum, situated in Birgu, was actually very interesting. Malta was really bombarded for a few years during the war and it was interesting to see how resilient the locals were. We even got to do a tour of the underground air raid shelters which were intriguing, if a tad claustrophobic!

With the flight being only three hours away from the UK and with the sun shining for more than 300 days of the year, this is a year-round destination and great for a little city break.

Shopping in Amsterdam

I'm still reminiscing about my trip to Amsterdam and one aspect I loved about it was the shopping. There was an amazing selection of independent shops to choose from with each one well curated and  a joy to browse in. We spent a lot of time admiring this, and buying the odd thing here and there....

Bonbon Boutique sells mostly jewellery inspired by geometric shapes. The jewellery was pleasing yet very simple and neatly laid out so that each item could be appreciated. What I loved about this shop, apart from the lovely necklaces, was the fact that the geometric theme had been carried through to other items in the store including these pillow cases, brooches and notebooks.

Depot 304 was a lifestyle store, selling beautiful items for the home as well as lovely items to be worn, from sandals and shoes, to peasant blouses in modern colour combinations and pared down jewellery. Many colour combinations used soft pinks and greys with a shot of mustard or copper.

NUNC is a homewares store with a more rustic feel, with some influences from Morocco as well as having a style similar to Anthropologie. I loved the brightly coloured canvas tea holders and cushion covers, the bird bowl with the mini footprints inside, and the quirky brass bird and fish doorknobs. I just wish I had somewhere to use them!

HAY is a Danish homewares company that sells simple, innovative designs. Furniture comes in blonde wood and home accessories come with a shot of bright colour. Even the design of a box of matches has been thought out and coloured beautifully!

Museum of Bags and Purses, Amsterdam

We did actually go to one museum whilst in Amsterdam, a little-known museum at the southern end of the Old Centre called the Museum of Bags and Purses. It's a haven, it turns out, for anyone with a penchant for bags and purses, and even for those who don't! I wasn't sure what to expect, but it had an amazing collection of bags from 500 years ago to the present day and was so inspiring.

The museum was created when the private bag collection of Hendrikje and Heinz Ivo grew too big for their private home and had to be moved to a beautiful canal house in Amsterdam, a former residence of the mayor of Amsterdam in 1666. Many of the features of the house have been kept, with grand fireplaces and big windows swathed with rich drapes. You start the tour by heading to the third floor up a grand wooden staircase, and working your way down.

The beaded bags above are made from tiny glass beads sewn together. The beads are so small, it's hard to imagine the hole being big enough to fit a needle and thread through it, and the design is so intricate. It looks like a tapestry.

There was a whole cabinet devoted to ivory bags. The one above left is a painstakingly intricate carving of a country scene. The clasps above right are also intricately carved, with colour added.

 I love the black and white beaded bags above. They are from the 1930s but have a modern feel.

Stunning peacock feathers adorn the centre of the ostrich feather clutch bags above.

The ensemble above is made from toad skin.....

Gorgeous graphic Art Deco clutch bags.

A stunning stag clutch.

Needless to say, I was in awe of everything in this museum.

Maybe they would be interested in adding a Cheeky Leopard clutch bag to the collection?!

You can finish your tour with a cup of coffee and something sweet overlooking the beautiful courtyard garden. Even the cupcakes are decorated with handbags.

A weekend in Amsterdam

There's nowhere quite like Amsterdam, with its warren of ancient canals, grand buildings and laid back vibe. It has the beauty of Venice, but the buzz of an evolving metropolis and I was lucky to go there last weekend on a whirlwind trip. We stayed in a hotel that was pretty central, but away from the mayhem of the red light district and close to an area called Jordaan which we loved, with its trendy boutiques, cool cafes and laid back vibe. I'm afraid to say, we didn't do any of the big museums or touristy sights, but meandered the back streets and canals and it was perfect!

I will save the museums for another trip....

Bikes really are the main form of transport and all the roads are well designed for cyclists.

Saturday was a beautifully sunny day and everyone was out on their boats, pootling along the canals. By the evening, the canals were heaving with revellers enjoying the warm weather. Some even had BBQs on their boats.

Needless to say, we ate well while we were there. The photo above was taken at Pluk, a lovely health food restaurant in the Nine Streets area where we ate a beautiful watermelon, feta and walnut salad washed down with a stunningly pink fruit juice drink.

We couldn't resist these delicate morsels at the Museum of Bags and Purses.

We had a very good latte at the HAY cafe when we first arrived - conveniently situated across the road from our hotel! They also sell beautiful home products. 

One evening we had a fab meal at Van Kerwijk, a restaurant where there is no menu, but the friendly staff sit down with you and read out the day's choice. The food was very good!

The buildings look stunning at night time as the lights come on. I love the proportions of the tall thin buildings with their large windows that let in lots of light - makes it easy to spy into beautiful homes!